FA probing West Ham taunts

ABUSIVE:：West Ham fans hissed on several occasions, apparently mimicking the noise of the gas chambers used in the mass execution of Jews during World War II

AFP, LONDON

Wed, Nov 28, 2012 - Page 18

The Football Association announced on Monday that it had launched an investigation into reports of anti-Semitic abuse by West Ham United fans toward supporters of Tottenham Hotspur.

Some West Ham fans were reported to have mocked the gassing of Jews in the Holocaust and chanted about Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler during Sunday’s game between the clubs, in reference to Spurs’ links to the Jewish community.

“The FA can confirm it has begun investigating reports of abusive chanting at the Tottenham versus West Ham United fixture,” an FA statement said. “The FA governance department has this morning [Monday] contacted both clubs and will continue to make enquiries into the matter in the coming days.”

Scotland Yard revealed that two West Ham supporters had accepted police cautions after being arrested “on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offense” during the game.

West Ham United later announced that one of the men had been given a lifetime ban from the soccer club.

“One of those fans has since been identified as a season ticket holder and has, this afternoon, been sent a letter containing a banning order from the club,” a statement from the east London club said. “Any other individuals identified can expect a similar swift and robust response.”

The incidents at White Hart Lane came just days after a Tottenham fan was stabbed before a UEFA Europa League game against SS Lazio in Rome in an apparently anti-Semitic attack by Italian hooligans.

West Ham supporters also sang Viva Lazio, “Can we stab you every week?” and hissed on several occasions, apparently mimicking the noise of the gas chambers used in the mass execution of Jews during World War II.

West Ham had earlier pledged to support any FA investigation and the governing body of English soccer welcomed their stance.

“We note the statement issued by West Ham and encourage clubs to identify and ban for life any individuals involved in incidents of abusive chanting,” an FA statement said.

Tottenham are preparing a report to be sent to the FA and a club spokesman confirmed on Monday that their evidence would contain “relevant CCTV footage.”

West Ham’s Israel international midfielder Yossi Benayoun said the behavior of the club’s fans was “embarrassing.”

“I have a great relationship with the West Ham United supporters, from my first spell at the club and again now I am back on loan here,” Benayoun wrote on Twitter. “This why I was very disappointed to hear some of the songs yesterday [Sunday] and it was embarrassing.”

The Community Security Trust (CST), an anti-Semitism monitoring charity, said it had received complaints from members of the Jewish community, including people who attended the game.

“The days of English football crowds making massed monkey noises are thankfully gone, but massed anti-Semitic chanting about Hitler and gassing was clearly heard yesterday [Sunday] from a loud section of West Ham fans,” CST spokesman Mark Garder said. “We have heard such abuse against Spurs before and it risks seriously compromising the work against racism at all levels of the game.”